₦airaland Forum

This morning on my way to work, I saw 2 cars broken down before I even reached the express.


I saw a driver standing under the sun looking frustrated, bonnet open, while another car blocked half the road and caused a traffic build up.


In Nigeria, our roads, traffic, and even fuel quality can stress a car’s engine beyond normal limits, but how wonderful will it be when you are using good engines.


That’s why I’ve been thinking, is investing in a good engine really the money-saver people claim it is? Or is it just hype, and proper maintenance is the real key?


Personally, I’ve owned both types, one car that gave me peace of mind for years, and another that seemed to be allergic to staying on the road. The difference in cost, stress, and safety was massive.

I would love to read about your experience with engines.

Have you had an engine that saved you from roadside embarrassment and high repair bills?

So many things are responsible for car breakdown ...

Most of which i'll call "Mechanic Sabotage" ...

Yeap, you read that right!!!

The mechanics don't want your vehicle operating normally so you keep coming back ...

But what drives most people to mechanic

Negligence ... One day, i filled my radiator and forgot to put the cap and i drop around like that ... now, that can lead to serious overheating that can result in engine damage and that will lead to mecho who will first (if u dare drive there with full tank) drain your fuel and claim u didn't come there with any fuel ... then after fixing the issue, they'll do some small damage ...

Sometimes, remove your fuse and return it without securing it ... in a way that if u drive and enter 5 bumps, the fuse will disconnect and the car would not start which is in turn, chop chop for them.

It is good to buy good engine and also, its of equal importance to know about how cars/engines work ...

My car engine always worked fine till i was negligent about some simple things ... and that nearly costed me my life ...

I had a terrible near accident experience on express way, due to my foolishness: not fixing the wire thats responsible for my engine temperature display ... i was on 120 and with ac on ... i didn't know the engine had overheated and eventually, shut off in the midst of tankers, traillers, all on high speed ... the vehicle was towed back and in the process of fixing my burnt gasket, my air-fuel ratio sensor, on the right side of the bonnet (drivers front), was broken ... instead of telling me, the mecho just gummed and blocked it ... the ecu didn't know how hard the engine was running so couldn't compensate ... bottom line? I ended up buying another engine ... instead of simply telling me about the broken sensor, which costed just 1k back then ... cost me about 80k engine ...

Afterwards, the same mecho, disconnected my o2 sensors, claiming, its not doing anything ... i received sense and reconnected it when fuel wan finish me ... i reconnected it ...

So whether u buy a new or good engine or not, if you don't learn simple stuffs to keep your car running, it will cost u ...

That, has been my personal experience but lets wait for others to contribute sha ...

ZickWorldNG:
This morning on my way to work, I saw 2 cars broken down before I even reached the express.


I saw a driver standing under the sun looking frustrated, bonnet open, while another car blocked half the road and caused a traffic build up.


In Nigeria, our roads, traffic, and even fuel quality can stress a car’s engine beyond normal limits, but how wonderful will it be when you are using good engines.


That’s why I’ve been thinking, is investing in a good engine really the money-saver people claim it is? Or is it just hype, and proper maintenance is the real key?


Personally, I’ve owned both types, one car that gave me peace of mind for years, and another that seemed to be allergic to staying on the road. The difference in cost, stress, and safety was massive.

I would love to read about your experience with engines.

Have you had an engine that saved you from roadside embarrassment and high repair bills?

Nothing anyone can tellme .I have not visited mechanic in a year cos I learnt how to change plugs,tyres,radiator,cut and join wires back,dismantle fuel pump housing,dashboard. I only visit alignment shop and shocks change and oil change cos it's gotta be under of the car.

Thanks for sharing this.
You’re living proof that learning the basics of car maintenance is worth every bit of effort.

Knowing how to handle things like changing plugs, tyres, topping radiator water, fixing loose wires, or even dismantling small components, you’re not just saving money, you’re saving yourself from the headache of unnecessary mechanic visits.

You can spot issues early before they turn into major and expensive problems.

2cribz:
Nothing anyone can tellme .I have not visited mechanic in a year cos I learnt how to change plugs,tyres,radiator,cut and join wires back,dismantle fuel pump housing,dashboard. I only visit alignment shop and shocks change and oil change cos it's gotta be under of the car.

Thank you so much for sharing this detailed experience, and thank God for protecting you during that expressway incident, that could have ended far worse.

Your experience proves that every driver should take the time to learn the basics, because in the end, it’s not just about keeping the car running, it’s about keeping you safe on the road.

bigl:
So many things are responsible for car breakdown ...

Most of which i'll call "Mechanic Sabotage" ...

Yeap, you read that right!!!

The mechanics don't want your vehicle operating normally so you keep coming back ...

But what drives most people to mechanic

Negligence ... One day, i filled my radiator and forgot to put the cap and i drop around like that ... now, that can lead to serious overheating that can result in engine damage and that will lead to mecho who will first (if u dare drive there with full tank) drain your fuel and claim u didn't come there with any fuel ... then after fixing the issue, they'll do some small damage ...

Sometimes, remove your fuse and return it without securing it ... in a way that if u drive and enter 5 bumps, the fuse will disconnect and the car would not start which is in turn, chop chop for them.

It is good to buy good engine and also, its of equal importance to know about how cars/engines work ...

My car engine always worked fine till i was negligent about some simple things ... and that nearly costed me my life ...

I had a terrible near accident experience on express way, due to my foolishness: not fixing the wire thats responsible for my engine temperature display ... i was on 120 and with ac on ... i didn't know the engine had overheated and eventually, shut off in the midst of tankers, traillers, all on high speed ... the vehicle was towed back and in the process of fixing my burnt gasket, my air-fuel ratio sensor, on the right side of the bonnet (drivers front), was broken ... instead of telling me, the mecho just gummed and blocked it ... the ecu didn't know how hard the engine was running so couldn't compensate ... bottom line? I ended up buying another engine ... instead of simply telling me about the broken sensor, which costed just 1k back then ... cost me about 80k engine ...

Afterwards, the same mecho, disconnected my o2 sensors, claiming, its not doing anything ... i received sense and reconnected it when fuel wan finish me ... i reconnected it ...

So whether u buy a new or good engine or not, if you don't learn simple stuffs to keep your car running, it will cost u ...

That, has been my personal experience but lets wait for others to contribute sha ...

My 2006 honda accord timing belt adjuster had clearance which makes a knocking sound on cold start every morning . I took it to the mechanic, he said it was the oil lifter or screen, and pump which is not pumping well. I refused to listen, i took my time to research and found out it was the timing belt adjuster which i bought for 3k then and gave to the mechanic, he changed it and boom the knocking sound stopped upon cold start...

NB: if you own a car and lazy to make research about it and it's problem before taking it to the mechanic, you will pay heavily for that!

Dwarfgod:
My 2006 honda accord timing belt adjuster had clearance which makes a knocking sound on cold start every morning . I took it to the mechanic, he said it was the oil lifter or screen, and pump which is not pumping well. I refused to listen, i took my time to research and found out it was the timing belt adjuster which i bought for 3k then and gave to the mechanic, he changed it and boom the knocking sound stopped upon cold start...

NB: if you own a car and lazy to make research about it and it's problem before taking it to the mechanic, you will pay heavily for that!

i’m having the same issue with my Camry, I read online that is adjuster, but a mechanic also said the same.
The fact is some of them are Intelligent while many are dumb

Thank you for sharing this experience 🙌🏽.

This is a perfect example of why every car owner should take time to understand their vehicle and possible issues before heading to the mechanic.

A little research can save you a lot of money, prevent unnecessary repairs, and keep you from being misled.

Dwarfgod:
My 2006 honda accord timing belt adjuster had clearance which makes a knocking sound on cold start every morning . I took it to the mechanic, he said it was the oil lifter or screen, and pump which is not pumping well. I refused to listen, i took my time to research and found out it was the timing belt adjuster which i bought for 3k then and gave to the mechanic, he changed it and boom the knocking sound stopped upon cold start...

NB: if you own a car and lazy to make research about it and it's problem before taking it to the mechanic, you will pay heavily for that!

Thanks for sharing this.

It really pays to have an idea of what’s wrong with your car before taking it to the mechanic, it saves time, money, and unnecessary stress.

And when it’s time to fix it, always go for a professional mechanic who knows the job.

RichIgboBoy:
i’m having the same issue with my Camry, I read online that is adjuster, but a mechanic also said the same.
The fact is some of them are Intelligent while many are dumb

People have said it just like it is, the two factors which often keep car owners stranded on the road are, owner's negligence or lack of knowledge, and mechanic sabotage (intentionally or otherwise), this is of course the case after manufacturing defect has been ruled out, as some cars will always get you stranded no matter the car knowledge you have or how much you baby the car.

You are right my brother and thank you for sharing this.


There's just need to get basic knowledge of the cars that we drive and also prepare ourselves for maintenance of the cars.

Babatundehy:
People have said it just like it is, the two factors which often keep car owners stranded on the road are, owner's negligence or lack of knowledge, and mechanic sabotage (intentionally or otherwise), this is of course the case after manufacturing defect has been ruled out, as some cars will always get you stranded no matter the car knowledge you have or how much you baby the car.

Share your experience with us

When it comes to engines, I think it really depends on how well the car has been maintained. Even a good engine can turn bad if servicing is ignored. I’ve had times when I needed a mechanic near me open now, and getting a quick check made all the difference before things got worse. Regular oil changes, listening for unusual noises, and checking warning lights early can save you from major engine trouble.

Do you usually stick to a strict maintenance schedule, or only visit a mechanic when something feels wrong?

Sticking to a strict is better because, even the strongest engine won’t last long if maintenance is ignored.

Regular oil changes, paying attention to strange sounds, and not waving off warning lights really go a long way.

Consistently service your car.

davidfuller34:
When it comes to engines, I think it really depends on how well the car has been maintained. Even a good engine can turn bad if servicing is ignored. I’ve had times when I needed a mechanic near me open now, and getting a quick check made all the difference before things got worse. Regular oil changes, listening for unusual noises, and checking warning lights early can save you from major engine trouble.

Do you usually stick to a strict maintenance schedule, or only visit a mechanic when something feels wrong?

You can still share your experience with us

You can still share your experience with us.